>
>
> On Fri, Dec 18, 2009 at 7:09 PM, Tom Hargrave <thargrav@hiwaay.net> wrote:
>
> > This is a classic example of a "plan to fail" approach that most of us
> fall
> > into.
>

Not even close in my experience. I don't know where most volks that have
vanagon's drive, but
on many of the trips I drive on, I drive over 300 miles on back/dirt roads.
The conditions aren't
even remotely relative to asphalt/concrete, nor the stresses put on the
vehicle closely the
same. It becomes obvious very early on, while traveling on these back road
conditions,
whether a vehicle is prepared for that environment, but most of the volks I
travel with
do constant maintenance and preparation, and even then things fail. Almost
always
related to the impact the environment has on the van, not so much a
new-cheap part.

Stuff happens, and I want things like belts, CV joints/grease/tools, etc.
with me to
be prepared for the unforseen, unexpected. Going out on these back roads
without
being properly prepared, in my view, is like going for a bike ride without a
helmet.
So, taking a helmet along on a trip and using it, is a "plan-to-fail"?

That kind of thinking is called an opinion. I have one too. ;-) It's just
different
from that one.

Bob